Relay intercropping of maize with fodder crops is a promising option for sustainable intensification of dairy small-scale farms in the Cerrado of Brazil. Twenty-six intercropping trials were conducted on farmers’ fields with the following experimental treatments: sole maize crop cropping (MS), maize-Brachiaria intercropping (MB) and maize-pigeon pea intercropping (MP). The trials were managed by the farmers, i.e. choice of conventional tillage (CT) versus no-tillage (NT), sowing dates, fertilization and weed control. Maize grain yield varied strongly across the farmer fields, from 100 to 5900 kg ha−1 in the MS treatment, 500 to 6900 kg ha−1 in MP and 300 to 5500 kg ha−1 in MB. Intercropping did not significantly affect maize grain yields under NT, but yields were reduced under CT in one out of two seasons. Maize yields in the intercropped systems were also higher under NT than CT. Total biomass productivity was significantly higher in the maize-fodder than in the sole maize system. An increased interval between sowing of maize and fodder crop significantly reduced the fodder crop biomass. Relay intercropping, especially in combination with NT, is a promising option if crop calendars and fertilization are properly managed by farmers to reduce interspecific competition between the maize and fodder crop.

中文翻译：

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为巴西中部的小农提供玉米与饲料作物间作

玉米与饲料作物的套种是巴西塞拉多小型奶牛场可持续集约化的一个有希望的选择。在农民田间进行了 26 次间作试验，试验处理如下：玉米单作（MS）、玉米-腕部间作（MB）和玉米-豌豆间作（MP）。试验由农民管理，即选择常规耕作（CT）与免耕（NT）、播种日期、施肥和杂草控制。不同农田的玉米产量差异很大，从 100 到 5900 公斤公顷-1在 MS 处理中，500 至 6900 kg ha-1MP 和 300 至 5500 kg ha-1以 MB 为单位。在 NT 下，间作对玉米产量没有显着影响，但在 CT 下，有二分之一的季节产量下降。NT下间作系统的玉米产量也高于CT。玉米饲料的总生物量生产力显着高于单一玉米系统。玉米和饲料作物播种间隔的增加显着降低了饲料作物的生物量。如果农民对作物日历和施肥进行适当管理，以减少玉米和饲料作物之间的种间竞争，则套种间作，特别是与 NT 相结合，是一个很有前途的选择。